One of the Tarry yard’s brightest stars is set to be honoured by a race at TAB Turffontein this Sunday.
The Listed TAB National Colour Stakes (1000m) is named in honour of one of the fastest fillies to grace the South African turf – the lightning-fast National Colour.
Below is a brief description of this wonderful horse.
National Colour
f National Assembly -Rainbow Cake
National Colour was a true champion who has left a lasting mark on both the South African and Australian studbooks. Bred by Advocate Altus Joubert and raced by Chris Van Niekerk, the flashy grey won well at the second time of asking at two, but really showed her worth the following season. At three, the brilliant speedster won her last four starts, all graded, in a row -namely the G3 Man O’ War
Sprint, G1 Computaform Sprint, G1 South African Fillies Sprint and G1 Mercury Sprint. National Colour was subsequently named Joint South African Horse Of The Year for 2005-2006 for which season she was also crowned Equus Champion 3YO Female Sprinter.
Sent to further her campaign overseas, National Colour enhanced her reputation when winning in Dubai and finishing a good second, beaten just half a length, in the G1 Coolmore Nunthorpe Stakes of 2008. National Colour was also unlucky when contesting the 2008 G1 Qatar Prix de l'Abbaye, when a false start made a mockery of proceedings.
Retired to stud in Australia, National Colour proved an outstanding broodmare, despite dying young.
Her sons Rafeef and Mustaaqeem (both by Redoute's Choice) won the G1 Computaform Sprint and G1 SA Nursery on the same day, with Rafeef having since gone on to become a top-class stallion. (His full-brother Mustaaqeem was named Equus Champion 2YO Colt of 2016-2017). National Colour’s daughters have also done well at stud, with one daughter Sarraq dam of dual Australian G1 winner Celestial Legend and another, Circle Of Speed, producing G3 Poinsettia Stakes winner Full Velocity,